Commissioned Histories & Memoirs

Featured Projects

Other featured work include the following:

True to Plan: Crafting an Educational Revolution Beneath the Two Towers (2015)

A behind the scenes review of 50 years at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Two-Part Memoir of The Hartford CEO Liam McGee published in Risk and Insurance, a trade publication (2015)

FROM THE RIVERS. The Origins And Growth Of The New England Electric System (1996)

NOTE: Several projects developed by Landry are not currently publicly available, either because the books are out of print, or because the book or reports were meant for internal use only. 

These include:

  • A history of a regional electric utility (book);

  • Master narratives for a global consulting firm and a large hedge fund; and

  • A book-length unpublished history of a prominent family business

Experience & Background

Landry's commissioned history and memoir projects have been as short as a focused analysis of a specific question, or as long as a full-length published book. He’s written “master narratives,” typically a hundred pages long, which can be adapted or repurposed in many ways, including as a multi-media presentation.

Commissioned histories can be used by clients in different ways. Many of his commissioned history projects have come through the Winthrop Group, where he is a senior contractor. He has also worked with clients who have contracted him directly.

The Ideal Client

…is a leader of an organization looking to learn from its history and to make that history a resource for strengthening the organization.  Instead of a simple history for PR or marketing purposes, he or she is interested using the history to reveal the organization's authentic purpose or mission. That purpose or mission can go far to engage and energize current employees. The history can also explain the organization’s current activities, strategies, and structures, and where it might go in the future.  There are many ways to tell a true history of an organization; the challenge is to tell the story with resonance for today.

Commissioned Histories & Memoirs Process

Defining the Story

Most companies and business leaders have interesting stories to tell, but everything depends on the reasons for telling the story. Companies might have an anniversary approaching, but really want the history to help re-engage their employees or better attract talented recruits. An executive might want to explain to kids or grandkids his or her challenges and accomplishments at work.

After hearing the reason, including its intended audience, Landry likes to delve into the story and chart out an overall narrative with the key context, events and developments to select. Interviews can confirm and develop this narrative, as well as provide colorful details to engage or inspire readers..

Landry starts by asking the client what is most important about the story, and then develops the project from there. Or he may have the client summarize his or her career and use that as a starting point. Once the story begins to take shape, he probes for details that can reveal all sorts of interesting possibilities. 

Working on a Project

For commissioned history projects, Landry’s typical approach is to write a narrative or historical report for the client in his own name.  He’s written about specific developments that span a few years, as well as century-long histories.  The end of this work might be a book published and distributed through the usual channels, a confidential narrative, or a writeup distributed only inside a company or to family and friends. 

Landry has penned detailed narratives of a hundred pages or more, shorter articles, or an article series (published or not) —  it all depends on the client’s goals.

Landry’s fees for commissioned histories and memories are based on the size of the project. For short projects, he typically charges by the hour, while going with a flat fee for long projects.